System and method for patient monitoring

Abstract

Systems and methods of monitoring a patient. Exemplary methods include receiving sensor data associated with the patient from a plurality of sensors of a patient monitoring device and determining whether the sensor data satisfies one or more trigger conditions. For each of the trigger conditions satisfied, one or more messages are sent to at least one of the patient monitoring device and an external computing device for display thereby to at least one of the patient, a caregiver, and a support person. Satisfaction of one or more of the trigger conditions may indicate the patient has edema and/or is trending toward decompensation. The sensor data may have been collected from a heart rate sensor, an oximeter, an accelerometer, and/or a sensor configured to detect a distance around a limb of a patient. In some embodiments, the trigger conditions are provided by the patient, caregiver, and/or support person.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention is directed generally to devices and methods for monitoring patient health, and more particularly, to methods and systems for detecting edema.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Monitoring patient parameters is quite common in medical care environments, such as hospitals, doctors' offices, and the like. Further, patient monitoring outside of a clinical setting is increasing because of the rising cost of traditional healthcare. There is a need for devices configured to monitor a patient's health. Devices configured to notify professional healthcare providers when appropriate are particularly desirable.[0005]A “compensated” system is able to function despite any stressors or defects that might be present. Decompensation occurs when the system can no longer compensate for these issues. Decompensation is a general term commonly used in medicine to describe a variety of situations.[0006]Cells a...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Further, patient monitoring outside of a clinical setting is increasing because of the rising cost of traditional healthcare.

Decompensation occurs when the system can no longer compensate for these issues.

The physiological conditions that cause an increase in interstitial fluid in the limbs of a heart failure patient may also cause decompensation.

Unfortunately, this method is wet, cumbersome, and unsuitable for continuous patient monitoring and data collection.

While results obtained by the Leg-O-Meter devic...

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